Another chance

At Mukti Rehabilitation Centre,in Rajarhat,many misguided children get an opportunity to get rid of their addictions

Manoj Dey (name changed on request) shudders. Then,almost in a whisper,he says,It can destroy you. Completely plays with your mind and then slowly destroys you. I needed to come out of it…I needed to escape. He is a patient at the Mukti Rehabilitation Centre,in Rajarhat. The Mukti Rehabilitation Centre is a non-profit organisation working in the field of drug addiction and alcholism. Manoj recently got himself admitted to their rehab; he had been addicted to solvents for longer than he can remember. But he finally wanted to escape,and that brought him to Mukti.

Manoj may be lucky as hes now at Mukti. But there are thousands like him,in and around Sealdah,who are addicted to solvents like dendrite and others. It is for them that Mukti has launched an Intervention and De-Addicted Program for Solvent Addicted Children of Sealdah Railway Station. It consists of a Drop-In Centre where any solvent-addict is free to drop in,and he will be helped to overcome his addiction. As KVishwanath,the secretary says,These are mainly homeless children,aged between 8 and 18 who have nowhere to go and resort to getting high on solvents. They beg from commuters at Sealdah station and try and do odd jobs,all to fund their addiction. Very often,these children will move on to harder drugs.

Solvent addiction is a major,social problem nowadays, says Dr Rashmi Datta,a psychotherapist at Mukti. Since its cheap,easy to carry and is readily available,its prevalent everywhere,from the upper to the lower classes. I have seen children from even the top Kolkata schools addicted to solvents. The instant hit which dendrite or other solvents can give also attracts the addicts. And once theyre addicted,its equally difficult to wean them away from the addiction.

Yet,there are still plenty of cases of winners; of people whove fought their addiction. People who have had the courage to realize that theyre making a mess of their lives and surrender it all to make a new start. One of those is Badal Ray (name changed on request),an 18-year-old man at Mukti. He came to the centre six months ago and has successfully fought his addiction. Hes currently learning driving and hopes to continue in this field for a while. I am thankful that I got this opportunity,to live a respectable citizens life. I realize that there is always a choice,always a light in the darkness. Rahim (name changed on request),another patient agrees with him. Manusher icche thaklei hoye (If a man wishes,then anything is possible).

At Mukti,we only try and bring these people back into the mainstream,because theyve strayed so far from it. Were there to get them out,carry them on our shoulders,slowly make them walk,hold their hand while they walk and in the end,let them walk alone. Everyone here gets one,fair chance, says KViswanath,the Secretary of the organisation.

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